Electrical current measurement and rapidly locating and positively identifying cathodes having abnormal electrical conditions associated therewith in an electrolytic copper refining process tankhouse

ABSTRACT

Cathodes having abnormal electrical conditions associated therewith in an electrolytic copper refinery tank-house are rapidly and positively identified to enable the early remedying of the abnormal condition or conditions, for instance short circuited cathodes or poor contacts, by closing the normally open, cathode bar receptive, pivotally mounted, automatically closeable and automatically openable jaws of a sensing head of an electrical current measuring instrument, or of the sensing heads of a plurality of current measuring instrument units depending from a common supporting means of a current measuring apparatus, about one or more of a plurality of spaced apart cathode bars in the tankhouse and from which the cathodes are suspended and immersed in the electrolyte. The sensing head jaws are closed about the cathode bars by lowering the instrument or apparatus whereby shoes of the instrument&#39;&#39;s operating mechanism are forcefully applied against the cathode bar or bars due to the weight of instrument or apparatus parts, thereby automatically closing the jaws of the sensing head or heads to substantially encompass the cathode bar or bars. The current passing through each cathode bar is measured by utilizing the magnetic field created by the current passing through the cathode bar to induce a measurable e.m.f. and a measurable electrical current in conductive coils on non-magnetic cores of the sensing head jaws in a preferred embodiment. The current measurement value for the cathode bar or each of the cathode bars is compared with a predetermined desired current measurement value for its suspended cathode thereby positively identifying any cathode or cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith.

United States Patent [191 [1 n 3,7 Shaw Aug. '14, 1973 ELECTRICAL CURRENT MEASUREMENT ated therewith in an electrolytic copper refinery tank- AND RAPIDLY LOCATING AND POSITIVELY IDENTIFYING CATHODES HAVING ABNORMAL ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED THEREWITII IN AN ELECTROLYTIC COPPER REFINING PROCESS TANKI-IOUSE Frank D. Shaw, Rumson, N].

American Smelting and Refining Company, New York, NY.

Filed: Nov. 15, 1971 Appl. No.: 198,513

Related US. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 1,108, Jan. 7, 1970, Pat. No. 3,652,935.

Inventor:

Assignee:

US. Cl 324/114, 324/117 H, 324/127 Int. Cl. G01r 33/00, GOlr 1/22 Field of Search 324/114, 127, 117 R,

[56] References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 991,779 10/1951 France 324/127 926,021 4/1955 Germany 324/114 Primary Examz'nerRudolph V. Rolinec Assistant ExaminerErnest F. Karlsen Attorney-Roger J. Drew [57] ABSTRACT Cathodes having abnormal electrical conditions associhouse are rapidly and positively identified to enable the early remedying of the abnormal condition or condi-. tions, for instance short circuited cathodes or poor contacts, by closing the normally open, cathode bar receptive, pivotally mounted, automatically closeable and automatically openable jaws of a sensing head of an electrical current measuring instrument, or of the sensing heads of a plurality of current measuring instrument units depending from a common supporting means of a current measuring apparatus, about one or more of a plurality of spaced apart cathode bars in the tankhouse and from which the cathodes are suspended and immersed in the electrolyte. The sensing head jaws are closed aboutthe cathode bars by lowering the instrument or apparatus whereby shoes of the instrument's operating mechanism are forcefully applied against the cathode bar or bars due to the weight of instrument or apparatus parts, thereby automatically closing the jaws of the sensing head or heads to substantially encompass the cathode bar or bars. The current passing through each cathode bar is measured by utilizing the magnetic field created by the current passing through the cathode bar to induce a measurable e.m.f. and a measurable electrical current in conductive coils on non-magnetic cores of the sensing head jaws in a preferred embodiment. The current measurement value for the cathode bar or each of the cathode bars is compared with a pre determined desired current measurement value for its suspended cathode thereby positively identifying any cathode or cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith.

8 Claims, 20 Drawing Figures 100 129 755 REHDOUT HPPR RFITUS IIIIIWI'III 'II'IHUIll II V J 124 I? 9) 120 z' 136 1271 736 m PATENTEDAUB 14 1973 SHEEI 1 [IF 9 ELECTRICAL CURRENT MEASUREMENT AND RAPIDLY LOCATING AND POSITIVELY IDENTIFYING CATHODES HAVING ABNORMAL ELECTRICAL CONDITIONS ASSOCIATED THEREWITII IN AN ELECTROLYTIC COPPER REFINING PROCESS TANKHOUSE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This is a division of application Ser. No. L108, tiled Jan. 7, 1970 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,652,935.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the measurement of electrical current, and more particularly to new and improved instruments and apparatus for measuring electrical current passing through one or more conductors. Additionally this invention is directed to a method for the to have no anode to cathode short circuits, all cathodes carrying equal currents, and no non-current-carrying cathodes or anodes. For example, in a 10,000 ampere circuit wherein each tank has 30 cathodes, the desired current measurement value for each cathode would be about 333 amperes, obtained by dividing 10,000 by 30.

Clamp-on ammeters for measuring DC current and having normally closed tongs or jaws are known in the prior art. Such ammeters require the meter man to use two hands to open the jaws for clamping about the conductor for the current measurement, with one hand gripping the handle and the other gripping and operating a lever or second handle which opens the jaws. Although these ammeters are understood to be useful to the aluminum, chlorine and magnesium cell line users, due to its 7,500 ampere range they are of no value or utility for measuring DC current through the cathode bars in an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse. Further, even assuming for the moment these clamp-on ammeters had utility for cathode bar current measurement in a copper refinery tankhouse, the ammeter would be relatively slow and quite awkward for regular current efficiency work in the copper tankhouse due to requiring two hands for holding and opening the normally closed jaws.

Another clamp-on ammeter or current measuring instrument known in the measuring instrument prior art has a normally closed sensing head affixed to a handle, with the sensing head having normally closed tongs or jaws requiring a manual push-pull action on the handle by the meter man for opening for clamping about or encompassing the conductor. A portable ammetercontaining package or unit connected to the jaws by lead wires extending through the hollow handle shows the current measurement on a scale thereof by means of a pointer. The meter package has a handle whereby it can be carried by hand or slung over the shoulder of the meter man by a strap connected thereto. Such a clamp-on ammeter was tested on cathode bars in the copper refinery tankhouse. Although such ammeter gives satisfactory results in certain respects in the current measuring, it leaves room for improvement in the measurement of current flow through the cathode bars in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse. In general this last-mentioned clamp-on ammeter would also be relatively slow for regular current efficiency work in the tankhouse, which is due to the :manual push-pull action required on the handle by the meter man to open the normally closed tongs or jaws of the sensing head and then to close the jaws around the cathode bar, after which the jaws have to again be manually opened by the action on the handle to remove them from around the bar. It would be desirable in the measurement of the cathode current in the copper refinery tankhouse to be able to employ a current measuring instrument capable of being clamped around each cathode bar and removed therefrom faster than such prior art instrument having the normally closed sensing head jaws, inasmuch as a faster operating instrument from the standpoint of encompassing and removal from each cathode bar could lead to increased electrical current efficiencies with higher copper cathode production and lower costs. The aforementioned prior "tong" or clamp-on type instrument also may pose a problem if inconvenience and awkwardness due to requiring both hands of the meter man for holding the instrument and exerting the push-pull action on the handle to open and close the tongs or jaws. Consequently the meter man has no free hand to hold the ammeter-containing package or unit, or to move the ammeter-containing unit when slung over his shoulder to a position enabling him to take the reading fromthe meter panel. Further he does not have a free hand with which to mark cathodes having abnormal current values or to make written record of these values if such is desired. Further the jaws of such prior clamp-on type instrument were too large to fit easily between the cathode bars in the copper refinery tankhouse and it was only by appreciable effort and maneuvering of the jaws that the jaws were able to clear and pass between the cathode bars to enable diagonal clamping about the cathode bar the current through which it was desired to measure. This excessive size of the jaws rendered the instrument unsuitable for regular current efficiency work in the tankhouse.

Gauss meters, which indicate the number of lines of magnetic force adjacent to a direct current carrying conductor, are used in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse, to indicate abnormal current conditions in a cathode bar and hence associated with the corresponding cathode. The gauss meter is located on the end of a vertical handle and moved over the tops of the cathode bars by the meter man. The reading of the gauss meter is affected by distance from the cathode bar, orientation with respect to the cathode bar and by magnetic fields due to other cathode bars and nearby supply bus bars, and hence a great amount of skill is required of the meter man. Use of the gauss meter in general does not provide a positive identification of cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith.

Millivoltmeters have also been utilized heretofore in an electrolytic copper refinery tanikhouse for current efficiency work or trouble shooting. The millivoltmeter measures the voltage drop between each anode and cathode. The sensing end of the millivoltrneter is usually inserted in the electrolyte on one side only of the cathode and between it and the anode. After the millivoltmeter reading is read by the meter man, the meter is jumped over" the electrolyte on the other side of that cathode and between it and the next anode and its sensing end re-immersed in the electrolyte on the other side of the anode last-mentioned and the next cathode. This pattern of immersion of the millivoltimeter sensing end is usually followed substantially the length of the tank. Based on the meter mans judgement of the millivoltmeter reading, he marks with chalk anodes or cathodes in association with which he believes an abnormal electrical condition or conditions exist, for example short circuits or poor electrical contacts, and which require correction. Corrections or adjustments are then made in an effort to eliminate the abnormal electrical condition or conditions. Later the meter man checks by millivoltmeter to determine whether the adjustments or corrections have been made and if they have, he removes his mark. The trouble is the normal voltage drop between the anodes and cathodes depends on extraneous factors as exemplified by current density, contact resistances, electrolyte composition, temperature of the electrolyte, amount of addition agent or agents present in the electrolyte, anode spacing (which is continually changing as anodes corrode and after first cycle cathodes are pulled),-etc. Consequently one must depend on the meter mans judgement and ability to determine what voltage is relatively high and what voltage is relatively low for a given anode-cathode combination at that particular time, when compared to the tank and section as a whole. The millivoltmeters, generally speaking, do not provide a positive identification of cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith due to the extraneous factors mentioned.

It is important to locate and remedy as soon as possible any abnormal electrical condition or conditions of consequence, for instance short circuits, abnormally high or low cathode currents, poor contacts, etc., occurring in the tankhouse of the electrolytic copper refining process. The reason for this is that the deposition of copper at the cathode in the electrolytic refining process is in accordance with Faradays law of electrolysis, and hence the amount of copper deposited at the cathode is proportional to the product of the electrical current flowing in amperes and the time the current flows.

Other tong type meters having normally closed tongs or jaws have been employed heretofor in electrolytic copper refinery tankhouses for current efficiency work. However these meters are badly adversely affected by the large magnetic fields in the tankhouse, and also leave room for improvement from the standpoint of speeding up the current measurement and efficiency work by reason of being quite slow, relatively speaking, to use and operate in that the normally closed sensing jaws must first be manually opened to encompass the conductor bar for the current measurement. Further the reliability of these meters depends a great deal on the judgement of the meter man, and these meters do not provide a positive identification of cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith.

As for as I am aware, the prior copper electrorefining art was unable to come up with a method involving measurement of the direct current through the cathode bars which would positively identify cathodes in the electrorefinery tankhouse having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith, and also enable such current measurement and cathode identification to be carried out as rapidly as is provided by my present invention.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION One object of this invention is to provide an instrument for rapidly and accurately measuring electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart conductors or a single conductor.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument for rapidly and accurately measuring direct electrical current passing through a plurality of conductors or a single conductor, whose successful use re quires only minimal operator experience, judgement, skill and effort.

Another object is to provide an instrument for rapidly and accurately measuring direct electrical current passing through the cathodes in the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery.

A further object is to provide an instrument for rapidly and accurate measuring electrical current passing through one or more conductors which requires only one hand of the meter man to operate, has automatically closeable sensing head jaws which are normally open and close about the conductor merely by a one handed lowering of the instrument to forcefully apply its shoes against the conductor, and has automatically openable sensing head jaws which open to a conductor receptive position for the next current measurement merely by a one handed raising of the instrument to withdraw forceful application of its shoes from the conductor.

Still another object is to provide a method for rapidly locating and positively identifying cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith in one or more tanks of an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse.

Another object is to provide for the more efficient and economical operation of the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery.

A further object is to attain an appreciably increased production of refined copper in an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse.

An additional object is to provide an apparatus for rapidly and accurately measuring the electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart conductors.

Still another object is to provide an apparatus for rapidly and accurately measuring the electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart cathode bars in an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse.

A further object is to provide a method for rapidly locating and positively identifying cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith in an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse without being adversely affected by a neighboring magnetic field or fields due to electric current passing through another conductor or conductors in the tankhouse.

Additional objects and advantages will be apparent as the invention is hereinafter described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, l have found that cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith, for instance short circuited cathodes and poor electrical contacts, in an electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse can be relatively rapidly located and positively identified and in this and other respects hereinafter set forth, my invention constitutes a considerable improvement over the prior art which is previously described herein. By virtue of providing for the more rapid location and positive identification of the cathode or cathodes having the abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith, the present invention enables the more rapid remedying or correcting of the abnormal condition or conditions. The method of the present invention, in its broader aspects, comprises, in combination, the steps of rapidly and accurately sensing and measuring the direct electrical current passing through one or more or all of a plurality of spaced apart cathode bars each having a cathode suspended therefrom and immersed in electrolyte in one or more tanks in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse by utilizing a magnetic field created by the current through the cathode bar or bars, and comparing the current measurement value for each cathode bar with a predetermined desired current measurement value for its suspended cathode thereby positively identifying a cathode or cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith. The direct current passing through any remaining cathode bars in the one or more tanks which was not sensed and measured by the sensing and measuring step previously disclosed herein is rapidly and accurately sensed whereby all cathode bars are current sensed and measured, and the current measurement value for each of any such cathode bars is compared with a predetermined desired current measurement value for the corresponding suspended cathode thereby positively identifying a cathode or cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition associated therewith. The cathode or cathodes found to have the abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith are then noted in any suitable manner, for example by marking the cathodes or cathodes with chalk; by the output device of a computer printing out the information on paper, recording or writing the information from the computer on magnetic tape, cards or paper tape, or producing graphic displays, the input device of the computer having been supplied with the data; or by recording on a chart or other suitable recording medium to obtain a profile the current measurement val ues for all of the cathode bars in a tank or cell or section of a tank or in the entire tankhouse of the electrolytic copper refinery. This profile of the current measurement values disclosed immediately above is compared with a profile of the predetermined desired current measurement values for the cathode bars thereby identifying the cathode or cathodes having the abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith. An output device of a computer which transmits signals over a teleprocessing network or networks can also be employed.

Further the cathode or cathodes having the abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith can be noted by the employment ofa transducer which translates pivot shaft rotation into a signal for remote readout, or by electronic scanning, with the results indicated recorded, printed or displayed in any suitable way.

After the cathode or cathodes having the abnormal electrical condition or conditions have been located and identified as such, which is a positive identification of such cathodes as aforementioned, the abnormal electrical condition or conditions are usually remedied or corrected.

The sensing and measuring of the direct current passing through the cathode bars in the copper refinery tankhouse in the method of this invention is preferably effected by closing the normally open, conductor receptive sensing head jaws each including one or more electrically conductive coils on a. non-magnetic core of a current measuring instrument, or of a plurality of current measuring instrument units of a current measuring apparatus, about each cathode bar, or simultaneously about all cathode bars or a plurality of such bars but less than all bars, to substantially encompass each cathode bar. In this preferred current sensing and measuring, the coils of the jaws of the instrument or of each instrument unit are electrically connected to an ammeter-containing unit or package by connecting wires. By reason of the coils of the jaws cutting the magnetic lines of force about the cathode bar or bars, the magnetic force lines being due to the current passing through the bars, a measurable electromotive force and hence a measurable electrical current is induced in the coils the strength of which current is measured in amperes by the ammeter of the ammeter-containing unit or package. By so carrying out the sensing and measuring of the current, the sensing and measuring is not adversely affected by a neighboring magnetic field or fields resulting from electrical current passing through other conductors or buses.

ln all embodiments of the method of this invention, the normally open, cathode bar-respective sensing head jaws of the instrument or instrument units are closed or clamped, for the current measuring, about any suitable portion of the cathode bar or bars in the copper refinery tankhouse enabling or permitting the jaws to be closed or clamped thereabout. Thus when a copper loop is used to suspend the copper starting sheet or cathode from the cathode bar, the sensing head jaw or jaws can be closed or clamped about any portion of the cathode bar or bars on either side of the loop and between the loop edges and the sill or edge of the tank. Should another type of copper or metal suspending means or device be employed for suspending the starting sheet or cathode from the cathode bar and which other suspending means and device provides clearance for the sensing head jaws to be closed or clamped about another portion of the cathode bar or bars than that disclosed supra, the closing or clamping of the jaws about such other portion is entirely satisfactory. u

In one embodiment of the method of the invention, the rapid and accurate sensing and measuring the current is carried out with respect but one of the plurality of spaced apart cathode bars each having the cathode suspended therefrom and immersed in the electrolyte in the copper refinery tankhouse, and the current measurement value for the cathode bar is compared with a predetermined desired current measurement value, usually an optimum current measurement value, for its suspended cathode thereby positively identifying the cathode as having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith when such abnormal condition or conditions exists. The steps of sensing and measuring and then comparing the current measurement value of the cathode bar with the predetermined desired measurement value are then repeated in that sequence on all remaining cathode bars in the tank one at a time. The remainder of the method of this embodiment substantially is the same as is previously disclosed herein for the method in its broader aspects.

In another embodiment of the method herein, the rapid and accurate sensing and measuring of the current is carried out simultaneously with respect a plurality of the spaced apart cathode bars and which may be all or less than all but still a plurality of the cathode bars in a tank, section, or even the tankhouse, and the current measurement value for each cathode bar is compared with a predetermined desired current measurement value, usually an optimum current measurement value, for its suspended cathode thereby positively identifying the cathode as having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith when such abnormal condition or conditions exists. In the event less than all of the cathode bars in the tank, section, or tankhouse, as desired, had the current passing therethrough sensed and measured, the rapid and accurate sensing and measuring is conducted with respect the remaining cathode bar or bars and the current measurement value for each such bar or bars compared with a predetermined desired current measurement value, usually the optimum current measurement value, for its suspended cathode thereby making the positive identification referred to immediately above. The remainder of the method of this embodiment is substantially the same as is previously disclosed herein for the method in its broader aspects.

In certain embodiments of the apparatus of this invention, the current measuring instrument has normally-open, conductor receptive, pivotally mounted, automatically closeable and automatically openable sensing head tongs or jaws. The current measuring instrument is a portable instrument and is easily lowered by the meter man with only one hand (leaving the other hand free) to apply the instruments shoes to the cathode bar or another solid surface in the tankhouse and to position the tongs or jaws about the cathode bar. Due solely to the weight of instrument parts including the sensing head jaws and a yoke assembly, the jaws close about the cathode bar with the lowering of the instrument to substantially encompass the bar for the current measuring. Upon raising or lifting of the instrument by the meter man, again easily done with but one hand, from the cathode bar with attendant withdrawal of forceful application of and ultimately of contact of the shoes from the cathode bar or other solid surface, the jaws open to their conductor receptive position ready for l the next measurement again due solely to the weight of instrument parts including the sensing head jaws and a yoke assembly. The meter man merely walks rapidly, compared with the prior art metering, down the length of the tank or cell usually on the cathode bars to repeat this procedure of lowering the instrument to automatically close the jaws about each cathode bar and, after taking the current measurement reading on the ammetercontaining unit or package, raising or lifting the instrument to automatically open the jaws to receive the next cathode bar.

In another embodiment of the apparatus herein, a plurality of current measuring instrument units depends or is supported from a common supporting means. The measuring instrument units each have normally open, conductor receptive, pivotally mounted,

automatically closeable and automatically openable sensing head jaws, and the instrument units are lowered and raised to and from the cathode bars in the tankhouse by a crane, or any other suitable raising and lowering device, for instance a suitable raising and lowering device or means mounted on an integral carriage or bridge on wheels spanning and straddling the entire tank or cell. The jaws of the instrument units close about the cathodes for the current measuring upon lowering the apparatus, to bring the instrument unit shoes in forceful contact with the cathode bars or other solid surfaces, and open upon raising or lifting of the apparatus to withdraw the forceful application of and ultimately the shoes from the cathode bars or other solid surfaces, solely by reason of the weight of apparatus parts including the sensing head jaws.

Alternatiyely, the jaws of the electrical current measuring instrument or instrument units of the current measuring apparatus may be maintained in the normally open, conductor receptive, ready position for positioning about the cathode bar or bars by the biasing or urging action of a helical spring or springs, or by the combination of the weight of instrument parts including the jaws and the urging action of the spring or springs, instead of by only the weight or mass of instrument parts.

The current passing through each cathode bar in the tankhouse of the electrolytic copper refinery is measured either directly or indirectly in accordance with the present invention. The sensing head or heads of the current measuring instrument or instrument units herein utilizes either directly or indirectly the magnetic field created by the current passing through the conductor or conductors to obtain the value of the current passing through the cathode bars in the copper refinery and hence the cathode current values. The cathode bar or cathode current values directly or indirectly obtained are suitable for a plurality of different readouts, including direct and indirect readouts such as for instance a pivoted or swingable indicating needle on an ammeter scale, a transducer which translates pivot shaft rotation into a signal for remote readouts, or electronic scanning, with the result or results indicated, recorded, printed or displayed in any useful way. Further, as previously disclosed herein, a computer can be employed in conjunction with the current measuring instrument herein and especially in conjunction or association with the current measuring apparatus herein having the plurality of current measuring instrument units, the output device of the computer printing out or otherwise recording or writing the information as previously disclosed herein or graphically displaying cathode current values and/or identifying cathodes whose current are above or below predetermined desired or optimum current values or are fluctuating as may be the case where an unstable short circuit or varying resistance contact exists.

The sensing head of the current measuring instrument of this invention preferably utilizes for current measuring purposes the magnetic field created by the current passing through the conductor either inducing a measurable electromotive force and a measurable electrical current in the coil or coils of the sensing heads non-magnetic jaws by reason of the coil or coils of the jaws cutting the magnetic lines of force during movement of the jaws about the conductor in accordance with Fleming's right hand rule, or, in another embodiment concentrating or inducing the magnetic field in the non-retentive magnetic jaws of the sensing head wherein a movable permanent magnet needle, or a Hall effect element or transducer is utilized to respond to the magnetic field created by the current in the conductor in such manner as to determine the value of the current passing through the conductor. in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse, the induction of a measurable e.m.f. and a measurable current in coils of sensing head non-magnetic jaws with the coils about nonmagnetic cores is preferred as previously mentioned, by reason of not being adversely affected by neighboring magnetic fields in the refinery tankhouse.

A desired current measurement value, which is usually but not necessarily an optimum current measurement value, is determined or calculated for each cathode, and the current measurement value for each cathode bar and hence cathode is compared with this pre determined desired or given current measurement value whereby an abnormal electrical condition or conditions, if occurring, is positively located and its remedying or correcting enabled. In the electrolytic copper refining process, there is usually a plus and minus deviation from a predetermined optimum current measurement value within which one can satisfactorily electrorefine copper, the deviation being decided upon in ac cordance with practical mechanical, labor, and electrochemical factors applying to the particular electrolytic copper refinery, one particular factor being the cathode age or length of time it has been in the tank. For example due to its light weight and tendency in the first several days of its growth to warp, and due to stress relieving by the hot electrolyte, plus and minus deviations from optimum current which one can practically correct would generally be higher than in later days of cathode growth. The predetermined optimum current measurement value for the cathode and hence the cathode bar, is determined from optimum current density and total current carrying surface area of the cathode. Thus if optimum current density is 20 amperes per square foot, then the optimum current for a cathode with a total current carrying surface area of 16.7 square feet is 16.7 multiplied by 20 or 334 amperes. Undesirable results of operation above optimum current density include cessation of current flow due to anode polarization, dendritic short circuiting copper growths from cathode to anode, and increase in impurity levels in cathode copper. The principal undesirable result of operation below optimum current density is below capacity production. Operation with both above and below optimum current density results in unequal anode erosion which further contributes to unequal current density by producing unequal anode to cathode spacing and possible anode structural collapse. Allowance would be made for the practical factors heretofore mentioned affecting current balance among cathodes in a tank or cell, such allowance being, for example, plus or minus 20 percent of optimum current.

The sensing head jaws can be of any suitable shape or configuration, for example arcuate, hemielliptical so as to form an ellipse when closed about the conductor, right angular so as to form a square when closed about the conductor, or generally of any such shapes or configurations. [n the measuring of the cathode current in a copper refinery tankhouse, the-sensing head jaws of the instrument or instrument units are of such dimensions that the jaws have clearance to pass, when in the open, conductor receptive position, between the cathode bar the current of which is to be measured and two cathode bars laterally spaced at the opposite sides of the first-mentioned cathode bar. Thus the overall width of the sensing jaws, i.e., the distance from the lateral outermost edge portion of one of the jaws to the lateral outermost edge portion of the other jaw, when open is such that the jaws have clearance to pass between the cathode bar the current of which is to be measured and the two cathode bars laterally spaced at the opposite sides of the first-mentioned bar. in closing or clamping about the conductor to effect the measurement of the current passing therethrough, the sensing head jaws may or may not contact the conductor.

The present invention constitutes a considerable improvement in this art by reason of: (l) rapidly locating and positively identifying cathodes having an abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith, for instance short circuited cathodes or poor contacts, in one or more tanks or cells of the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse; (2) enabling the remedying of the abnormal electrical condition or conditions associated with the cathodes to be made sooner than by the prior art techniques by reason of (1) supra; (3) attaining a considerably increased production of refined copper in the electrolytic copper refining process; (4) enabling an appreciably more efficient and economical operation of the tankhouse of the electrolytic copper refinery; (5) the instruments rapidly and accurately measur ing electrical current passing through a plurality of conductors, or a single conductor, requiring but one hand to operate, requiring only minimal experience, judgement and skill of the meter man for its successful use; (6) the instruments having automatically closeable and automatically openable sensing head jaws and enabling the meter man to relatively rapidly move down the line of cathode bars in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse to measuring the direct current passing through each bar; (7) the instruments and apparatus in a preferred form, being virtually unaffected by the magnetic field of other current carrying conductors such as, for instance, adjacent cathode bars and/or high current buses; and (8) the apparatus having the plurality of current measuring instrument units effecting the simultaneous measurement of current through allcathode bars in a tank or cell, in a section, or in the entire tankhouse of the electrolytic copper refinery, or in a plurality but less than all cathode bars in such loci, as desired.

In those embodiments of the invention utilizing a sin gle current measuring instrument of the invention, the present invention enables the operator or meter man with a single-handed alternately lowering and raising motion and movement of the portable measuring instrument herein, to relatively rapidly move down the line or row of spaced apart cathode: bars in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse by walking on the cathode bars to measure the direct current passing through the cathode bars and to rapidly locate any cathodes having associated therewith an abnormal electrical condition or conditions, e.g., short circuited cathodes or poor electrical contacts; and to identify such cathodes positively, i.e., admitting of little or no question in identifying the cathode or cathodes as having the ab normal electrical condition or conditions associated therewith. The current measuring instrument or apparatus of this invention has a range of from O to 1,000 amperes in the embodiments having the one or more conductive coils in each jaw of the sensing head, and the model ASARCO COP ammeter-containing package or unit connected to the sensing jaw coils. This range renders the instrument or apparatus well suited for the important use of measuring the cathode current in the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery. The current measuring instruments or apparatus of this invention having the non-retentive or soft" magnetic jaws may also have a range of to 1,000 amperes.

The current measuring instruments and apparatus of this invention is also utilizable for measuring the electrical current passing through any other electrical conductor or conductors, in addition to that through the cathode bars in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse, and for any purpose or reason. When the current measuring instrument is utilized, the conductor or conductors may be at any location relative to the meter man, for instance below, above or laterally at the side or sides of the meter man. When the current measuring apparatus having the plurality of current measuring instrument units is utilized, it is imperative that the current carrying conductor or conductors be in a location which requires lowering of the apparatus and its instrument units so that the sensing head jaws of the instrument units substantially encompass the corresponding conductors. The current measuring instruments and apparatus herein has utility in any electrolytic process wherein it is desirable to locate and correct any abnormal electrical condition or conditions, or for any other purpose or reason. Of course the equipment or apparatus utilized in the electrolytic process must be of such structure or construction as to enable the use of the measuring instrument or apparatus herein. Exemplary of known electrolytic processes in which the instrument of this invention is utilizable for electrical current measurement are the processes for the electrolytic production of aluminum (the Hall-Heroult process being but exemplary), electrolytic production of magnesium, electrolytic production of nickel, electrolytic production of manganese, and production of chlorine by the electrolysis of brine, electroplating processes, e.g., the electroplating of zinc, electroplating of nickel, electroplating of silver, electroplating of gold, electrolplating of copper, electroplating of cobalt, and the electroplating of alloys thereof, e.g., cobalt-nickel alloys, brass, nickel-copper alloys and nickel-zinc alloys. In the aforementioned electrolytic processes in effecting the electrical current measurement, the sensing head jaws of the measuring instrument of the invention is preferably closed or clamped about an electrical conductor bar or bus bar or other shape conductor connected to and removing electrical current from the cathode. However in the process for the electrolytic production of aluminum, it may be more desirable due to the structure and shape of the process equipment to close or clamp the sensing head jaws about a bus bar or barshaped conductor or other shape conductor connected to and supplying electrical current to the anode.

Larger and smaller ranges can be utilized in the current measuring instruments or apparatus of this invention than the 0 to 1,000 ampere range hereinbefore disclosed, and may be indicated for use of the instrument or apparatus for other processes than the electrolytic copper refining process. For example, for use of the instrument having the coils in the sensing head jaws for the measurement of direct current in the electrolytic processes for the production of aluminum, chlorine or magnesium, a larger range for the measuring instrument of up to 10,000 amperes and higher may be required. This higher range of up to 10,000 amperes and higher is provided by increasing the size of the electrical and mechanical components of the instruments, and by modifying the sensing head and current measuring and any other components as may be required.

Where the process voltage levels so dictate, safety considerations may require that electrician's gloves be worn by the meter man or operator in normal operation of the instrument.

In the electrolytic refining of copper the impure copper to be refined is cast in plate form as anodes. The anodes are suspended in electrolytic tanks in the tankhouse in alternation with copper starting sheets suspended from the cathode bars as cathodes and immersed in an electrolyte, usually an aqueous acid solution containing copper sulfate and sulfuric acid. When a direct electrical current is passed through the electrolyte from the anodes to cathodes, the copper is dissolved from the anodes and deposits on the cathode starting sheets. The impurities associated with the impure copper of the anodes collects at the bottom of the electrolizing tanks in the form of anode mud or slime.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a current measuring instrument of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1 with its sensing head jaws in an open, conductor-receptive position positioned about a cathode bar in the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1 with the sensing head jaws in an intermediate partially closed position about the cathode bar.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1 with the sensing head jaws in a final, closed position about the cathode bar.

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the lower end portion of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a plan view partly broken away of the hinge means of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is an end elevation partly in section of one of the connecting links of the instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of FIG. 6.

FIG. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 10l0 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of the yoke assembly of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 1 and also showing a crossbar and a shoe of the instrument.

FIG. 12 is a horizontal section through an end portion of one jaw member of the measuring instrument of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of a current measuring instrument in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 14 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 14-14 of FIG. 13.

FIG. is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 15-15 of FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is an end elevational view of a portion of the support member and hinge member of the current measuring instrument of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a vertical sectional view taken on line l7-l7 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a view of the sensing head portion including a current readout device of a current measuring instrument in accordance with still another embodiment of the invention, the sensing head being disconnected from the remainder of the instrument and having its jaws clamped about a cathode bar in the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery.

FIG. 19 is a side elevational view ofa current measuring apparatus of yet another embodiment of this invention prior to clamping the apparatus jaws about a plurality of spaced apart cathode bars in the tankhouse of an electrolytic copper refinery, the apparatus comprising a plurality of current measuring instrument units.

FIG. is a side elevational view of the current measuring apparatus of FIG. 19 after clamping or closing of the apparatus jaws about the spaced apart cathode bars.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIG. 1, the current measuring instrument comprises elongate supporting tube or handle 15, a yoke assembly 31 including inverted generally U- shaped yoke member 32 movable on the handle, and tong-like sensing head 55 including normally open, conductor receptive, hinged, automatically closeable and automatically openable, tong-like jaws 56 when the instrument is held in a generally vertical orientation with the jaws 56 suspended below the supporting tube. Jaws 56 have electrically conductive coils composed of a multiplicity of windings wound on a non-magnetic or non-magnetizable core, shown in FIGS. 2 and 9 and hereinafter described, and ammeter-containing package 77 is electrically connected to the conductive coils of sensing jaws 56 by suitable conductors. Referring now to FIGS. l6 of the drawings, elongate supporting tube or handle 15 comprises upper tubular section 16 of stainless steel attached to lower tubular section 17 of stainless steel by a flexible joint including inner, concentric, smaller diameter, relatively thin wall tube 18 of stainless steel, shown in FIG. 2, intermediate tubes 19 shown in FIG. 2 of compressible flexible material, for

instance Tygon," coaxially aligned between smaller diameter tube 18 and upper handle section 16 and between smaller diameter tube 18 and lower handle section 17, and stainless steel screws 20 with stainless steel double locking nuts inserted through registering apertures in upper section 16, inner tube 18 and tube 19 and in lower section 17, inner tube 18 and tube 19. The flexible joint by which upper handle section 16 is attached to lower handle section 17 functions to prevent the application of damaging force to the mechanism parts or the sensing head hereinafter described applied through supporting tube or handle 15. A handle or hand gripping assembly 21 comprises stainless steel collar 22 having a sliding fit over upper handle section 16, collar 22 being drilled and tapped to provide two internally threaded apertures or holes each approximately l80 from the other. Two adjustable handle arms 23 of stainless steel each knurled at its outer end portion and threaded at its inner end portion, extend radial to collar 22 and are screwed within the correspondingly internally threaded apertures of collar 22 to lock this handle assembly to upper handle section 16 at any desired location by a jam fit. Compressible discs 24 of a flexible material, for instance "Neoprene," are disposed between the inner ends of arms 23 and the upper handle section 16 to avoid slippage of the handle assembly on the upper handle section. Tubing 25 of Neoprene is disposed over arms 23. Crossbar 27 of stainless steel is affixed by a jam fit or by welding or otherwise in a slot in a lower portion of lower tubular section 17 of supporting tube or handle 15, pivot pins 28 being inserted through apertures in its opposite end portions and through transverse, axially aligned registering apertures 62 in the slotted end portions of linkage arms 54, shown in FIG. 8, which receive the crossbar end portions in their slots. Lower section 17 of the supporting tube or handle has a generally inverted T-shape due to its crossbar 27 when the instrument is in a generally vertical orientation with the jaws below the handle.

Yoke assembly 31 comprises inverted generally U- shaped yoke member 32 of stainless steel, shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 10, welded to yoke sleeve 30 also of stainless steel, which is movable or slideable on the lower section 17 of supporting tube 15. Movable yoke sleeve 30 has slot 29, shown in FIG. 10, in its lower portion with slot 29 being of slightly larger width than the thickness of crossbar 27. Bushing 33 of Teflon or another low friction coefficient material is press fitted over the inner surface of sleeve 30 and between handle section l7and sleeve 30, to permit free movement of the yoke assembly on the lower handle section 17 of the supporting tube. Set screw 40, shown in FIG. 10, threadably removably inserted in a correspondingly threaded opening through sleeve 30 and bushing-33 serves to aid in holding bushing 33 in place. Bushings 34a of Teflon are provided in aligned apertures 34 in yoke member 32 for hinge pin or shaft 35. Two spaced apart, elongate crossbars 36, shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 11, are attached to a lower portion of the legs of the inverted generally U-shaped yoke member 32 by stainless steel screws 37. Crossbars 36, which were of stainless steel and substantially parallel as shown, each extend an appreciable distance laterally beyond the side edges of each leg of yoke member 32, with the lowermost edge of each crossbar, when the instrument is held downwardly with the sensing head below the supporting tube, being above a lower edge of each shoe hereinafter disclosed. The crossbars 36 function to render the apparatus free-standing when the tong-like jaws of the sensing head hereafter described are closed around a conductor such as, for instance, cathode bar 39 in a copper refinery tankhouse, gravity causing the apparatus to be supported on the two legs of the inverted generally U-shaped yoke member 32 and on one or more of the crossbars 36, to protect the sensing head and mechanism, and to serve with the top of the supporting tube or handle as a three point stable support for the mechanism when laid on a horizontal surface. The length of crossbars 36 can be reduced, if required, to fit between adjacent conductor bars such as the cathode bars 39. Crossbars 36 have apertures 41 for purpose of weight reduction. Inverted generally Ushaped yoke member 32 as shown also has apertures 42 in its legs for weight reduction.

Shoes 43 of an electrically insulating or substantially non-electrically conductive material such as, for instance, Teflon, are attached to the lower or end portions of the legs of yoke member 32 by screws 44 and extend a short distance beyond the ends of the yoke member legs. Shoes 43 are replaceable by removal of the screws. The electrically insulating material of shoes 43 insulate the mechanism from electrical contact with the electrical current carrying conductor bar 39, when shoes 43 are in contact with the conductor bar 39. Shoes 43 may also be of a more resilient electrically insulating material such as Neoprene to reduce impact.

Hinge 45, shown also in FIG. 7, comprises hinge plates 46 of stainless steel each affixed at their inner end upper edge portions by welding to one of annular members or sleeves 49 of stainless steel. Thus, one of the annular members or sleeves 49 is affixed by welding to an inner end upper edge portion of one of the hinge plates 46 and the other annular member or sleeve 49 is affixed by welding to the inner end upper edge portion of the other hinge plate 46. Pivot pin or shaft 35, which is substantially centrally located with reference to the hinge plates 46, extends through bushings 34a fitted in orifices 34 in generally U-shaped yoke member 32 as well as through bushings 40a fitted in the passageways of axially aligned tubular members or sleeves 49, such orifices 34 in yoke member 32 registering with the passageway of sleeves 49. Snap rings 47 of Teflon, shown in FIG. 6, serve to hold pivot pin 35 in place, and Teflon washers designated at 48 in FIG. 6.

Annular members 50 of stainless steel are welded to angular, downwardly bent outer end portions or ears 51 of hinge plates 46. Bushings 52 in the apertures of annular members 50 accommodate the pivot pins 53 for the links 54. The generally arcuate tong-like jaws 56 of the sensing head 55 are secured to hinge plates 46 by screws 57 inserted through holes 58, shown in FIG. 7 and drilled through hinge plates 46, and into tapped holes or cavities in the upper portion of the tong-like jaws 56 and registering with the holes 58 in hinge plates 46. Jaws 56 each include a non-magnetic core having a conductive coil or coils on each core encapsulated in or coated with a substantially continuous layer of a resin which is substantially non-corroding in acid conditions when the instrument is utilized for current measurement in the electrolytic copper refinery tankhouse, or is substantially non-corroding in alkaline conditions or in acid and alkaline conditions when the instrument is employed under those conditions. A suitable material for such layer is an epoxy resin inasmuch as it is substantially non-corroding in both acid and alkaline conditions.

Links 54 are pivotally connected to and link outer end portions of crossbar 27 by pivot pins or shafts 28 inserted through the registering apertures 62 in each link 54 and in crossbar 27 with the outer end portions 51 of the hinge plates 46 and to which hinge plate outer end portions links 54 are also pivotally connected, by pivot pins or shafts 53 inserted through the registering apertures 63 in the other end portions of links 54 and the passageway or apertures through axially aligned annular members 50. Each link arm 54 has a longitudinally slotted or bifurcated end portion 59, shown in FIG. 8, for insertion of crossbar 27 in the slot, with the opposite non-slotted, apertured end portion of each link 54 positioned between the annular members 50. Bushings 60 and 61 of Teflon are pressed into apertures 62 and 63 at opposite ends of each link 54. Bushings 60 at the slotted ends of links 54 were pressed into aperture 62 prior to cutting slot 59 in each arm 54. Shiftable collar 65 of stainless steel, which functions to limit the extent of opening of the tong-like jaws 56 and which has a sliding fit on sleeve 30, is secured in the desired location on sleeve 30 by locking screw 66. Cushion washer 67 of Neoprene or of any other suitable resilient material is cemented to collar 65 and serves as a cushion or bumper between crossbar 27 upon the opening of jaw members 55 and collar 65. If desired, plates 68 of stainless steel or of other suitable protective material can be secured to links 54 by screws and serve to cover the openings between the legs of yoke member 32 and links 54 to protect the wires 78. Plates 68, present in the instrument of FIG. 2, are detached from the instrument of FIGS. 1 and 3-6 for purpose of clarity in showing detail.

Shiftable collar 69 of stainless steel is disposed on lower handle section 17, collar 69 being locked at a desired or predetermined location on lower handle section 17 by locking screw 72. The closing of jaws 56 around cathode bar 39 results in upward travel of sleeve 30 on lower handle section 17, and the predetermined position of collar 69 locked on lower handle section 17 is such that compressible bumper washer 70 of Neoprene atop sleeve 30 cushions and stops the upward movement of sleeve 30 and hence cushions the closing of jaws 55.

When the instrument is to be used to measure current passing through a conductor located overhead or laterally of the meter man, helical spring 73, shown in FIG. 6, is employed and is disposed in compression about the exterior of lower handle section 17, between collar 69 and yoke sleeve 30, spring 73 bearing against an end portion of movable yoke sleeve 30 and against end 71 of collar 69. Compressible bumper washer 70, shown in FIG. 2, is ordinarily not utilized when spring 73 is employed. Collar 69 is locked at a desired or predetermined location on lower handle section 17 to provide the desired degree of compression in spring 73 and hence the desired degree of biasing of or force application against movable yoke sleeve 30 to move in a direction away from the collar end 71, such biasing of yoke sleeve 30 being sufficient to effect the automatic opening of jaws 56 and the maintaining of the jaws in an open position when shoes 43 are not forcefully applied against a conductor. Consequently the tong-like jaws 56, which are pivotally mounted on the inverted generally U-shaped yoke member 32 welded to the yoke sleeve 30, are opened and maintained in their normally open position (except when shoes 43 are forcefully applied against the conductor) in positions of the instrument wherein the sensing head jaws are located above the handle or supporting tube or at the end portion of the supporting tube when held laterally of the meter man as well as in positions of the instrument wherein the sensing head jaws are suspended below the handle or supporting tube, for instance, in the use of the instrument to close its jaws around the electrical conductor located overhead, or located laterally beside the meter man or operator as well as when located below the normal level of the meter mans hands when standing with his arms depending limply at his sides, to measure the electrical current passing therethrough. Further, coil spring 73 serves to cushion the closing impact of the jaws 56 due to increasing compression of spring 73 as the jaw faces meet. When the instrument is to be used only for measuring current through a conductor located below the normal level of the meter mans hands when standing with arms held limply at his sides, for a light compression or no compression position for spring 73, if desired, collar 69 is moved from its solid line heavy compression position, shown in FIG. 6, to the dotted line position where it is locked on lower handle section 17 by locking screw 72.

Jaws 56 of sensing head 55 have electrically conductive coils 75, shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, each composed of a multiplicity of wire windings or turns wound on a non-magnetic core 76. The wire windings of coils 75 are of copper or another metal or material of good electrical conductivity, with the wire being coated with a thin layer of electrically insulating material, for example an electrically insulating enamel layer. The core 76 is of aluminum or any other suitable non-magnetic or non-magnetizable material. Coils 75 on cores 76 are covered with or encapsulated in an electrically insulating, corrosion resistant, mechanical attack and abrasion-protecting, non-magnetic substantially continuous layer 81 of a material possessing such properties in the layer, for instance a synthetic resin, e.g., an epoxy resin, having such properties or of any other suitable material having such properties in the layer. Layer 8] can be a thin or thick layer and typically is of thickness in the range one-sixteenth inch one-fourth inch. Each coil 75 can have one, two, three or more layers of wind ings or turns, and there can be a single coil in each jaw 56 or two or more coils connected in series. Coils 75 are adapted to be operatively connected with the direct current measuring meter package or unit 77 including an ammeter and, as shown in FIG. 1, are electrically connected to such meter package or unit by conductor wires 78 extending through suitable apertures (not shown) in tong-like jaws 56, through apertures 79a, shown in FIG. 7, in hinge plates 46 and through the hol low handle sections 17 and 16 and the hollow flexible joint therebetween, wires 78 emerging through an aperture 78a or apertures in upper handle section 16 as a flexible lead, coiled or uncoiled, and being electrically connected to meter unit 77 by plug 79, shown in FIG. 1. Wires 78 are provided with male-female splice connectors 78c in the vicinity of the flexible joint section to permit assembly and disassembly of the upper and lower handle sections 16 and 17 respectively and to permit replacement of the wires 78. An envelope 78b of substantially non-electrically conductive sealant material, for instance silicone sealer, is preferably employed to surround an otherwise exposed portion of the wires 78 after they emerge from jaws 56 and hinge plates 46 and before they enter the lower end of the supporting tube lower section 17, for protective and supporting purposes. The ends of coiled flexible sections 78d of wires 78 are also encased in envelopes 78a of the substantially non-electrically conductive sealant material, which restricts flexing of wires 78 to their coiled flexible sections 78d. This avoids wire breakage due to fatigue failures which otherwise may result if bending due to opening and closing of jaws 56 is allowed to concentrate at single points in wires 78. An end plate 88, shown in FIG. 12, is secured by screws to the confronting end face of each jaws 56 to prevent wear due to attrition by contacts with cathode bar 39. End plates 88 can be fabricated of any suitable nonmagnetic material, for instance non-magnetic stainless steel.

Meter package or unit 77, which includes an ammeter, is shown in FIG. 1 and obtained from Halmar Electronics, Inc., 1,544 West Mound St., Columbus, Ohio as Model ASARCO COP. Meter package 77 is battery powered and ready to give a current measurement reading at all times on its scale by means of a pointer which moves over the scale. Meter package 77 contains an ammeter 76, electronic circuit components, switches and battery in the single package. Meter unit 77 has a casing preferably with a relatively short length of tube 80 secured to the back side plate thereof, tube 80 being of slightly larger diameter than the diameter of the tubular upper handle section 16 whereby meter 77 rests on upper handle section 16 as shown. A plug of an elastomer or other suitable flexible material may be inserted in the top of hollow upper handle section 16 for cushioning meter unit 77. Mounting of the meter unit 77 by means of tube 80 and the flexible lead wires 78 emerging from the upper handle section 16 permit removal of the meter unit for operation of the instrument with the meter unit 77 hand held, if desired. A]- ternatively, the ammeter, switches, battery and electronic circuit components of meter unit 77 may be mounted separately or in various combinations at locations other than the top of upper handle section 16 to suit individual preferance. For example, the ammeter 76 may be mounted facing upward on lower handle section 17 immediately above collar 69 to speed up successive measurements by placing the meter face in the operators line of sight to the cathode bar 39 which he must observe in placing jaws 56 over the cathode bar 39.

The jaws 56 automatically close about the currentcarrying conductor bar 39 by reason of the forceful application of the shoes 43 due to solely the weight of instrument parts including jaws 56 and the yoke assembly 31 against the conductor bar 39 or, if desired, by the weight of the instrument parts together with exertion of force by the operator actuating or causing the yoke assembly 31 including the yoke member 32 to move upwardly or away from the current carrying conductor. In the closing of jaws 56 about the conductor bar 39 a measurable electromotive force and hence a measur able electrical current is induced in the coils of the jaws 56, the magnitude of which is indicative of the amount of electrical current passing through the conductor bar. Upon release of the forceful application of the shoes 43 against the conductor bar 39, the weight of the jaws 56 and yoke assembly and/or the action of the spring 73, if employed, as aforementioned cause the yoke assembly including the yoke member 32 to move downwardly toward the current carrying conductor 39 whereby jaws 56 automatically move to their at-rest, normally open position.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 18, the current measuring instrument is substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1-6 and previously described herein except that in this embodiment of FIG. 18 the conductive coils in the normally open, conductor receptive tong-like jaws and the wiring leading to the meter unit are not utilized but instead the tong-like jaws 82 are constituted of a non-retentive magnetic material. Non-retentive magnetic jaws 82 are adapted to be operatively associated or coupled with means for measuring the electrical current passing through the conductor as hereinafter disclosed. The non-retentive magnetic material of jaws 82 are preferably encapsulated or covered in an electrically insulating, corrosion resistant, mechanical attack and abrasion-protecting, non-magnetic substantially continuous layer of a material possessing such properties, for instance a synthetic resin, e.g. an epoxy resin, having such properties or of any other suitable material having such properties. Such layer can be a thin or thick layer and is typically of thickness in the range one-sixteenth inch onefourth inch. Depression or cavity 83 is provided in the upper portion of jaw 82, depression 83 being of larger diameter than the length of permanent magnet needle 84. Magnet needle 84 is mounted in depression or cavity 83 and is movable on common pivot 85 for purpose of converting magnetic flux into information pertaining or relating to the magnitude of the current flow in conductor bar 39. Cavity 83 can be in either one of jaws 82 or partly in each and formed by complementary curved wall portions in each jaw, i.e., with a complementary curved portion in each jaw which together form cavity 83. Air gap 83a is between the inner surface of depression or cavity 83 and permanent magnet needle 84. Depression or cavity 83 extends a major portion of the distance but incompletely through the upper portion of jaw 82 as shown. However this cavity could extend completely through the upper portion of the jaw or jaws, or a lesser greater distance than shown in FIG. 18 but incompletely through this jaw upper portion. Pivot 85 also has indicating pointer 86 mounted thereon for moving over scale 86b for indicating the magnitude of the current flow in conductor bar 39. The scale 86b is previously calibrated with currents of dif ferent amperages passing through the conductr bar encircled by the sensing head jaws. To enable the meter man to readily see the reading on scale 86b, windows" can be provided in the legs of the inverted generally U- shaped yoke member, not shown in FIG. 18 but shown in FIGS. 2, l and II and designated at 32 therein, by providing a larger opening in the legs of the yoke member than provided by the weight reducing lower or middle aperture 42, shown in FIGS. and 11, or by forming the upper and middle apertures 42 as a single large aperture but insufficiently large to result in excessive structural weakness. The weight reducing apertures 42, especially the lower aperture, may itself suffice for enabling the meter man to read the scale reading. Instead of a direct flux readout on the scale by the pointer, the readout can be indirect such as by use of a transducer, which translates pivot shaft rotation into a signal for remote readout.

The terms non-retentive magnetic material and non-retentive magnetic used herein mean materials characterized by low coercive force, comparatively low hysteresis loss, relatively high permeability, and, usually, a fairly high saturation induction. Such materials are also known as magnetically soft materials. Materials included within the meaning of such terms are, for example, ingot iron, cast steel, Hypernik and cast iron.

Alternatively, the sensing head jaws of the present invention can utilize one or more Hall effect crystals in the jaws as aforementioned with each having a core of non-retentive magnetic material and associated transducer elements such as employed in DYN-AMP direct current metering systems supplied by Halmar Electronics, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio mounted in one or more cavities or air gaps in the core. A voltmeter or other suitable meter calibrated in amperes can be utilized to indicate the value of the current through the conductor encompassed by the jaws.

For measurement of alternating current passing through the conductor, the instrument embodiment of FIG. 18 having the non-retentive magnetic sensing head jaws is utilized provided this FIG. 18 embodiment is first modified as follows. The permanent magnet needle, common pivot mounting the magnet needle and the indicating pointer, indicating pointer and the scale all shown in FIG. 18 are omitted and the depression or cavity designated as 83 in FIG. 18 is so dimensioned as to receive and retain by a snap fit a male member of an ammeter hereafter referred to. Such ammeter measures both alternating current and direct current by the same ammeter. The AC or DC current reading as the case may be is instantly registered on a scale in amperes by a pointer. Such AC and DC ammeter is referred to as a Scale Range" and is obtainable from Columbia Electric Manufacturing Company, 4,519 Hamilton Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 4,414. The Scale Ranges referred to immediately above have a range of from 0 up to 1,000 amperes, depending on the particular type Scale Range, for AC and DC current. Type AX of such Scale Range has a range of from 0 up to 1,000 amperes for both AC and DC current.

In the operation of the current measuring instrument of FIGS. l-6 to measure current through a conductor requiring holding of the measuring instrument generally vertically withthe jaws suspended below the handle arms or handle, the instrument is held by the meter man by handle arms 23 or handle 15 with the tong-like jaws 56 suspended vertically from and below the handle l5, and the weight of the instrument parts including the hinged jaws 56 and yoke assembly including yoke member 32 producing moments of force acting upwardly about pivot pin 35 resulting in the opening of hinge 45 and the automatic opening of jaws56, with the downward movement of the yoke assembly until stopped by crossbar 27 bearing against cushion washer 67 or collar 65. The extent of down-travel of the yoke assembly including yoke member 32 and of the opening of the hingedly mounted jaws 56 is determined by the position of collar on yoke sleeve 30. Lowering collar 65 on yoke sleeve 30 will reduce the extent of opening of the tong-like jaws 56, whereas raising collar 65 on sleeve 30 will increase the extent of opening ofjaws 56.

To close the jaws 56 to substantially encompass the conductor bar 39, the entire instrument is lowered or moved by the meter man in a downward direction and in a fashion such that the open jaws 56 partially surround the conductor bar 39 and the shoes 43 contact the top of conductor bar 39. The forceful application of the shoes 43 against the conductor bar 39 due to weight alone of the instrument parts including jaws 56 and the yoke assembly 31 results in upward movement of the yoke sleeve 30, inverted generally U-shaped yoke member 32, and shoes 43 to produce moments of force acting downwardly about pivot pin 35 which results in the automatic closing or clamping of, jaws 56 about conductor bar 39 to substantially surround the bar 39. Motion stops when the endplates 88 at the opposing faces of jaws 56 meet. The entire weight of the instrument now rests on conductor bar 39. Downward force by the meter man may be exerted on the handle 15 but is not required to effect closing of the jaws56 around the conductor bar. 

1. An apparatus for measuring electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart conductors which comprises: I. a plurality of spaced apart electrical current measuring instrument units depending from a common supporting means, the measuring instrument units each comprising: a. the supporting means; b. a normally open sensing head capable of utilizing a magnetic field created by the current passing through the conductor for current measuring purposes, said sensing head having normally open, conductor receptive, pivotally mounted, automatically closeable and automatically openable jaws which, when closed, substantially encompass a conductor for the current measuring; c. means moveable on the supporting means of (a) and supporting the normally open sensing head jaws; d. means pivotally mounting the jaws on the last-mentioned moveable supporting means; e. means maintaining the jaws in an open position when a contacting means hereafter specified is not forcefully applied against a solid surface; and f. the contacting means attached to the jaw pivotally mounting means of (d), forceful application of the contacting means against a solid surface resulting in the automatic closing of the jaws to substantially encompass the conductor and withdrawal of the forceful application of the contacting means from against the surface resulting in the automatic opening of the jaws; and II. the sensing heads adapted to be operatively associated with means for measuring the electrical current passing through the conductor.
 2. An apparatus for measuring direct electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart conductors which comprises: I. a plurality of spaced apart electrical current measuring instrument units depending from common supporting means, each measuring instrument unit comprising: a. the supporting means; b. a normally open sensing head capable of utilizing a magnetic field created by the current passing through the conductor for current measuring purposes, said sensing head having normally open, conductor receptive, hinged, automatically closeable and automatically openable jaws which, when closed, substantially encompass a conductor for the current measuring; c. means moveable on the supporting means of (a) and supporting the normally open sensing head jaws; d. hinge means including a substantially centrally disposed, with respect the hinge means, pivot pin hingedly mounting the jaws on the moveable supporting means of (c); e. means maintaining the jaws in an open position when a contacting means hereafter specified is not forcefully applied against the conductor; and f. the contacting means of a substantially non-electrically conductive material connected to the hinge means substantially centrally disposed pivot pin, forceful application of the contacting means against the conductor due to the weight of apparatus parts including the sensing head jaws effecting movement of the contacing means in a direction to produce moments of force about the centrally disposed pivot pin thereby resulting in closing of the jaws to substantially encompass the conductors and withdrawal of forceful application of the contacting means from against the conductor resulting in movement of the contacting means in opposite direction thereby resulting in opening of the jaws; and II. the sensing heads adapted to be operatively associated with means for measuring the electrical current passing through the conductor.
 3. An apparatus for measuring direct electrical current passing through a plurality of spaced apart conductors which comprises: I. a plurality of spaced apart electrical current measuring instrument units depending from common supporting means, each current measuring instrument unit comprising: a. the supporting means; b. a normally open, tong-like sensing head capable of utilizing a magNetic field created by the current passing through the conductor for current measuring purposes, said sensing head having normally open conductor receptive, pivoted, tong-like, automatically closeable and automatically openable jaws which when closed substantially encompass the conductor for the current measuring; c. generally vertical support arms moveable on the supporting means of (a) and supporting the normally open sensing head jaws; d. hinge means hingedly mounting the jaws on spaced apart leg members hereafter specified, the hinge means including hinge plates secured to upper portions of the jaws, and a substantially centrally disposed, with reference to the hinge means, pivot pin, each hinge plate being pivotally connected at an outer end portion thereof with a lower end portion of each support arm; e. the spaced apart leg members; f. the weight of instrument parts including the sensing head jaws maintaining the jaws in a conductor receptive, open position when shoes hereafter specified are not forcefully applied against the conductor; g. the shoes of a substantially non-electrically conductive material attached to lower end portions of the leg members, forceful application of the shoes against the conductor due to the weight of apparatus parts including the sensing head jaws effecting movement of the shoes in a direction to produce moments of force about the centrally disposed, pivot pin thereby resulting in closing of the jaws to substantially encompass the conductor and withdrawal of the forceful application of the shoes from against the conductor resulting in movement of the shoes in an opposite direction due to the weight of instrument parts including the sensing jaws thereby resulting in opening of the jaws; and II. means operatively associated with the sensing head jaws for measuring the direct current passing through the conductor.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the sensing head normally open jaws of each measuring instrument unit each comprise a non-magnetic core and at least one electrically conductive wire coil on each core, the coils being serially connected and each having a multiplicity of windings on the non-magnetic core, and direct current measuring means electrically connected to the sensing head jaw coils of each instrument unit.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wire of each coil is coated with a thin layer of electrically insulating material.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein each jaw of each measuring instrument unit has an electrically insulating, corrosion resistant, mechanical attack and abrasion-protecting non-magnetic layer of a material possessing such properties in said layer over the coil windings of each jaw.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the material of the electrically insulating, corrosion resistant, mechanical attack and abrasion-protecting, non-magnetic layer is a synthetic resin having such properties in said layer.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the synthetic resin is an epoxy resin. 